BIRMINGHAM, Alabama --Birmingham City Council members along with Mayor William Bell are spending much of the day together in a policy and training retreat.

The city leaders are at the McWane Science Center downtown where the agenda includes presentations from Bell and Council President Johnathan Austin.

The council will also discuss and review the city code, council media communications plan, employee handbook and internal staff structure chart. Council members were given a packet of more than 260 pages.

"As president of the council I feel that it is very important to take time out to train as a group to ensure that we are staying on the right path for the betterment of this city," Austin said in a statement. "This training session is the second of its kind under this administration, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish."

Today's local session comes after a March official city retreat in Point Clear.

The previous retreat included Bell, council members and other senior officials participating in several work sessions focused on team building, council priorities and Bell's long-term agenda.